quintain
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
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English [edit]
Etymology [edit]
From Anglo-Norman quintine, quinteine, Middle French quintaine, probably from Latin quīntāna (“street separating fifth and sixth maniples in a Roman camp”), feminine form of quīntānus (“pertaining to the fifth”).
Pronunciation [edit]
Noun [edit]
quintain (plural quintains)
- (now historical) An object (generally a post or plank on a support) set up as a target to be tilted at in jousting, or otherwise used as target practice. [from 15th c.]
- 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin 2012, p. 285:
- In the tiltyard, his companions felt the juddering impact of his sword-blows and saw the muscled precision of his archery and his tilting at the quintain.
- 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin 2012, p. 285:
